Greenhouse Cucumbers

Bella Cucumbers

CU296

68 days. Elongated, slender fruits with a crisp texture and the sweet, refreshing flavor of summer. Plants produce absolutely bitter-free cucumbers and even when they get 8 inches long, they remain a slim 3/4 inch wide. Wonderful for fresh eating or cucumber salads. Also performed well in our outdoor trials. PAT. HR: S, TSP. IR: PM.

Cucumis sativus A favorite in cuisine worldwide, cucumbers possess health benefits too numerous to mention. Incorporate cucumbers in your diet to aid with weight loss, as they are exceptionally low in calories (only about 8 calories in 1/2 cup), aid digestion, and rid toxins from the body. Among the more unusual qualities of the humble cuke is its ability to ease skin irritations. Use a piece of cucumber skin to soothe burns.

CULTURE: For the best yields, it is important to provide ideal growing conditions for cucumbers. If the weather is not warm and dry, vines grow slowly and plants tend to fall prey to disease. Wait to direct sow or transplant until soil warms. For best germination, keep the soil lightly moist but not too wet.TO DIRECT SOW: We recommend raised beds. They improve drainage, warm up earlier, and increase the root zone depth. Space the groups about 3-4 feet apart in all directions. Under each group of seeds, work 1/2-1 cup of our complete fertilizer into the soil. After the seed is up and growing, thin plants.FOR TRANSPLANTS: Not recommended, but in short-season climates, starting seed indoors may be necessary. Cucumber transplants don't like their roots disturbed, so start them in individual 3 1/2 inch Peat pots. Fill pots with a sterile seedling mix. After they've emerged, place the seedlings in a sunny, warm spot. They should only be about 3 weeks old when transplanted in the garden. Harden off for about a week in a cold frame. The entire peat pot can be planted making sure the entire pot rim is below the soil surface. If any part is above ground, it will wick moisture away from the roots and weaken plants. Space and fertilize as described above for direct sowing.MULCHES & PLANT COVERS: These materials have been proven to help plants grow faster, flower sooner, and yield more fruit. We recommend green or silver mulch, plus a floating row cover of Grow Guard 20 or Reemay early in the season to achieve these results.DISEASE: Where disease is a known problem, choose resistant varieties. Remove plant refuse and control insect pests. Consult your local county extension agent for disease specifics.INSECTS/PESTS: Control striped and spotted cucumber beetles with Pyrethrin; apply regularly as long as beetles are evident. They primarily infect plants with bacterial wilt disease, which is devastating to plants. Keep border areas of the garden mowed.HARVEST: Keep your cucumbers picked, and they'll keep producing. When stored at 40°F and 95% relative humidity, they may last up to 3 weeks. Chickens like big cucumbers.SEED SPECS: Minimum germination standard: 80%. Days to maturity are calculated from the date of direct seeding. Usual seed life: 3 years.

KEY TO FLOWERS AND FRUIT SETGY | Gynoecious - Has all female flowers.HE | Hermaphrodite - Flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts.MO | Monoecious - Has separate male and female flowers on the same plant.PAT | Parthenocarpic - Has the ability to set fruit without pollination. Triggered by low temperatures, short day length, and plant age.